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The other day I had a phone conversation with a new indoor gardening enthusiast. The Cliff Note version of the conversation was about cheap grow lights. This 'newbie' was under the impression that cheap grow lights will produce less end results and the more expensive, named brand grow lights will produce bigger and healthier fruit. On the surface this sounds good. However, it's not necessarily the case so I decided to write this post to try and clear up some misperceptions about the quality of light energy vs. cost.
Let me start out by saying that there is not a direct relationship between price and quality. Let me also say that anyone who is new to indoor gardening and hydroponics should NOT buy the most expensive grow light. The absolute best and most expensive light will only produce the best and most optimal results if the rest of your indoor gardening setup is also functioning optimally.
For example, if you have the absolute best lighting system but the room temperature is too high or too low, then the plant will not grow optimally...even though you have the best grow light. Maybe you're using a low quality fertilizer or the wrong kind. If so, do you think having the most expensive grow light will compensate? Not hardly. What if the plants are over or under watered? I think you get the idea.
Unless everything is optimal then it makes sense to consider cheap grow lights vs. expensive. At least until you become a proficient indoor gardener.
Ok, so how do I know if I should buy a cheap grow light or an expensive one? Great question. I'll answer by explaining the basics of how a light works.
Plants need light in order to grow (photosynthesis). More specifically, the plants need a certain portion, or zone, of the light spectrum. This portion is called the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) zone. The amount of light energy a light produces is measured in lumens. Plants need the correct type of light in the right amount to grow optimally.
A 400 watt incandescent only produces 24 watts a plant can use...most of the light energy is not in the PAR zone. In other words, the portion of light a plant will use from an incandescent bulb is minimal. The number of lumens, therefore, is minimal. The plant will not grow optimally.
However, a 400 watt metal halide will produce about 160 watts a plant can use and has a much higher lumen count.
But, here's the question...are all 400 watt metal halide bulbs constructed the same and produce the exact same amount of light energy a plant can use?
Not at all. Consider the following:
A 600 watt Sunmaster bulb with 90,000 lumens has an average MSRP of $82.00.
A 600 watt Ushio bulb with 90,000 lumens has an average MSRP of $105.95.
In this example, the more expensive bulb does not produce more light energy. There are countless examples to show that price does not match quality.
But wait...
I can just hear the critics bring up variables such as the average life of the bulb, how much heat it generates, etc. No doubt, these are all factors to consider.
However, the point of this article is to demonstrate that a more expensive grow light is not necessarily better than cheap grow lights.
In short, if you need to purchase grow lights be sure to make your purchasing decision on factors that matter (lumens, PAR Wattage, life length, etc.) and not based on slick marketing designs and higher prices. You'll soon find that cheap grow lights may be the best choice available.
Let me start out by saying that there is not a direct relationship between price and quality. Let me also say that anyone who is new to indoor gardening and hydroponics should NOT buy the most expensive grow light. The absolute best and most expensive light will only produce the best and most optimal results if the rest of your indoor gardening setup is also functioning optimally.
For example, if you have the absolute best lighting system but the room temperature is too high or too low, then the plant will not grow optimally...even though you have the best grow light. Maybe you're using a low quality fertilizer or the wrong kind. If so, do you think having the most expensive grow light will compensate? Not hardly. What if the plants are over or under watered? I think you get the idea.
Unless everything is optimal then it makes sense to consider cheap grow lights vs. expensive. At least until you become a proficient indoor gardener.
Ok, so how do I know if I should buy a cheap grow light or an expensive one? Great question. I'll answer by explaining the basics of how a light works.
Plants need light in order to grow (photosynthesis). More specifically, the plants need a certain portion, or zone, of the light spectrum. This portion is called the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) zone. The amount of light energy a light produces is measured in lumens. Plants need the correct type of light in the right amount to grow optimally.
A 400 watt incandescent only produces 24 watts a plant can use...most of the light energy is not in the PAR zone. In other words, the portion of light a plant will use from an incandescent bulb is minimal. The number of lumens, therefore, is minimal. The plant will not grow optimally.
However, a 400 watt metal halide will produce about 160 watts a plant can use and has a much higher lumen count.
But, here's the question...are all 400 watt metal halide bulbs constructed the same and produce the exact same amount of light energy a plant can use?
Not at all. Consider the following:
A 600 watt Sunmaster bulb with 90,000 lumens has an average MSRP of $82.00.
A 600 watt Ushio bulb with 90,000 lumens has an average MSRP of $105.95.
In this example, the more expensive bulb does not produce more light energy. There are countless examples to show that price does not match quality.
But wait...
I can just hear the critics bring up variables such as the average life of the bulb, how much heat it generates, etc. No doubt, these are all factors to consider.
However, the point of this article is to demonstrate that a more expensive grow light is not necessarily better than cheap grow lights.
In short, if you need to purchase grow lights be sure to make your purchasing decision on factors that matter (lumens, PAR Wattage, life length, etc.) and not based on slick marketing designs and higher prices. You'll soon find that cheap grow lights may be the best choice available.
based on what you yourself said, what if the ushio bulb has 25% more output in the PAR frequencies? I'd need to see a frequency output map for each bulb before I decide. Also, if the Ushio bulb lasts for 4 grows instead of 3 for the cheaper alternative, it has already paid for itself.